When is the Best Time to Have Mummy Makeover Surgery?

Mummy Makeover surgery is a combination of procedures, either carried out together or in separate surgeries, to restore a woman’s body back to its pre-pregnancy appearance. It will typically include procedures which treat concerns around the abdomen and breasts and may also include Liposuction and Labiaplasty or Vaginoplasty. The exact combination of procedures will be decided between you and your surgeon during your consultation. 

There are a number of factors to consider when deciding the right time to have a Mummy Makeover. Your surgeon will discuss all of these with you during your consultation and will want to ensure that you are fully comfortable and ready for surgery physically and emotionally.  

You will need to consider:

• Post pregnancy recovery – Before undergoing Mummy Makeover, you must be fully recovered from pregnancy and childbirth – physically and emotionally. This time will vary for everyone but is typically 6-12 months. 
• Breastfeeding – Surgery can affect your ability to breastfeed. Your surgeon will ask you to have finished your breastfeeding journey before your Mummy Makeover procedure. 
• Family Planning – It is important to have finished your family before having a Mummy Makeover surgery. Getting pregnant again following your surgery could significantly impact your results and may lead to you needing a secondary surgery. 
• Maintaining a stable weight – Weight fluctuations following Mummy Makeover surgery may negatively affect your surgical results. Your surgeon will ask you to be as close to your ideal weight as possible and that you are able to maintain it before the surgery. 
• Overall health – Part of your surgical package at Cadogan Clinic is a pre-operative assessment to ensure you are fit and well for surgery. Good physical health is crucial for a successful surgery, and any underlying health conditions should be declared to your surgeon so they can advise on whether they may affect your surgery. 
• Recovery time – Due to the potential extent of the surgery, Mummy Makeover the recovery time can be significant – up to 3 months in some cases. It is important that you are able to schedule your procedure for a time when you will have support at home for childcare and are able to take enough time off work. 
• Finding the right surgeon for you – It is important that you put plenty of research into finding the right surgeon and clinic for you, and you should not rush this. This may include their experience in performing Mummy Makeover surgeries and their results.

Your surgeon will help you to decide when the right time for you to have your Mummy Makeover is. Typically, it will be 6-12 months after you have given birth to your final child when you are physically and emotionally recovered from pregnancy and childbirth. 

For most patients, a Mummy Makeover can take place 6-12 months following your final pregnancy and childbirth. Your surgeon will make sure that you are physically and emotionally ready for a general anaesthetic surgery, and may ask you to wait slightly longer for your mommy makeover after pregnancy, if they feel that delaying your surgery would benefit your results or be safer.

It is also important that as well as having finished your family, you have finished breastfeeding, you are maintaining a stable and close to ideal weight and that you have the correct support in place to allow for a successful recovery. 

Mummy Makeover can involve a number of procedures, including Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Breast Lift (Mastopexy), Liposuction or Vaginoplasty. Not every patient will have all of these, and your surgeon will advise on the best combination of surgeries to address your individual concerns.

Depending on the exact combination of procedures you are having, your surgeon may ask you to wait a longer period following pregnancy and childbirth to ensure you are physically ready and to allow you to achieve your desired surgical results.  

For example, if you have been breastfeeding, and want to include a Mastopexy as part of your Mummy Makeover, your surgeon may ask you to wait up to 6 months after you have stopped breastfeeding to ensure your breasts have recovered and are ready for surgery.  

The specific time of year you opt to have a Mummy Makeover will be individual to you depending on how the surgery and recovery best fits into your schedule. It is important to remember that when you are booking your Mummy Makeover surgery, you must have support available at home to assist with childcare, and also looking after any additional needs you may have during your recovery period.

Some patients wish to have their Mummy Makeover during the Winter or Spring, so they are fully recovered to go on holiday in the Summer and will feel confident wearing swimwear. Depending on the age of their children, other patients prefer to have their surgery during the school term, so they have fewer worries about childcare.  

Your surgeon will explain any specific preparation you need to consider before your Mummy Makeover procedure. As well as the factors we have explained above, including having finished your family, stopped breastfeeding and maintained a stable weight, you will need to include the following steps in your Mummy Makeover preparation:

• Stop smoking or vaping – If you smoke or vape, you must stop at least 6 weeks ahead of your surgery. Smoking can significantly impact your surgical results and your body’s ability to heal effectively. 
• Limiting alcohol intake – Alcohol can cause inflammation throughout your body, which can impact healing and lengthen your recovery times. It is important to limit your alcohol intake in the weeks ahead of your surgery and not drink alcohol at all in the 48 hours before your procedure. 
• Declare your medications – Make sure you declare any medications and supplements you take to your surgical team ahead of your procedure. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will advise if you need to stop taking anything or change the way you take something before your procedure. 
• Arrange for support – You must be collected by a friend or family member following your procedure, who can either drive you home themselves, or accompany you in a car. You should also make sure you have support around you for the recovery period to help you with childcare and any day-to-day activities you may struggle with during your initial recovery.